Tom Brady ticked off after comeback falls short

Jeff Howe Sunday, December 15, 2013

Credit: The Associated Press

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks to pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tom Brady nearly rescued the Patriots again, but the short-lived comeback drive in the fourth quarter left him steamed after today's 24-20 loss to the Dolphins.

Brady's final pass was intercepted in the end zone by safety Michael Thomas, who was making his NFL debut today and was such an unknown that he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. That stifled Brady's bid for the 42nd game-winning drive of his career, which also would have served as a career-high sixth in one season. Instead, it's the third time (Bengals, Panthers) his final pass was picked off in a loss.

"We got plenty of chances all day," Brady said in a two-question news conference that was his briefest of the season. "We make some good plays and then make plenty of (expletive) plays."

Brady completed 5 of his first 8 passes for 61 yards on the final drive, which began on the 20 with 75 seconds remaining and three timeouts in his pocket. The degree of difficulty, relative to his comebacks against the Saints, Broncos and Browns, seemed all too easy when it all began.

But Brady's 19-yard end-zone bid for Danny Amendola was broken up by Thomas, and he was a little too high for Julian Edelman on second down at the 14. Brady then missed MichaelHoomanawanui, who wouldn't address a potential hold on the play, and the final toss for Austin Collie was picked off.